THE COLLISION IN DUNEDIN HARBOUR.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13095, 21 April 1908, Page 4

THE COLLISION IN DUNEDIN HARBOUR.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

(SPECIAL TO " THE THESS. , ') DITNEDIN, April 20. Additional particulars of the drowning fatality in the lower 'harbour show that when Captain Cashman. (of tho Government steamer Lady Roberts) first saw the launch Matakana, she was .about seventy yards off, and from appearances he judged that she would pass his steamer fully sixty yards away. From some unexplained cause, however, the fishing boat altered its course when- about thirty yards off, and steered across towards the «istern side of the channel. To get lo this position it was n-eoeesary for tho boat to cross the bow of tho Lady R-oberts. Captain Cashman, observing tho dagger of the situation, promptly gave the order, "Full speed aeter.i*," :»«vi told the man at the wheel to nut tho helm hard over, but before this had' the desired effect the steamer crash<"<l in:to the sidfO of tho boat, literally cutting h«r in two, and precipitins her thirteen occupants into the water

Immediately the ooJlisio!i occur re -J Captain Cashman ordered lifebelts and lifebuoys to be thrown orerboaid amo 114 those struggling in tho water, and , with equal promptness a boat whs lowerr- J and a number of sinking and «-xhaU3t*i persons were by these means rescued. The night, fortunately, was 11 brigh , ;, moonlight one, and this assisted tho work of the rescnors, as well as ciabling those struggling in tho water to avail themselves of tho means <.f rescue from certain death.

The aft portion of the boat etr<*nining the oil engine sank imnir-diate.v. but the forward , portion float* 1, f n i was picked up some time after ib<i collision. The boy Alfml (aged 14), was rescued cliug:ng to a piece of the wrecked tioat.